Pillow blocks and flange cartridges

ABSTRACT

Self adjusting ball bearing support housings of two sections exemplified in pillow blocks and flange cartridges. Each of said sections comprises complementary inner spherical seats for the reception of the spherical outer race of a supported bearing, and an inner shoulder on one of said sections defining an annular space between the two sections to accomodate the self adjustment of the other section in relation to said one section and the self seating of the other section in relation to the outer race of a supported bearing.

United States Patent [191 Pakulak 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] PILLOW BLOCKS ANDFLANGE Primary Examiner-Charles .l. Myhre Assistant Examiner-Frank SuskoAttorney-Arlington C. White [57] ABSTRACT Self adjusting ball bearingsupport housings of two sections exemplified in pillow blocks and flangecartridges. Each of said sections comprises complementary innerspherical seats for the reception of the spherical outer race of asupported bearing, and an inner shoulder on one of said sectionsdefining an annular space between the two sections to accomodate theself adjustment of the other section in relation to said one section andthe self seating of the other section in relation to the outer race of asupported bearing.

4 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures u; g us INVENTOR.

/ [33/ PETE PAKULAK ATTOENE Y PILLOW BLOCKS AND FLANGE CARTRIDGESHeretofore in the art of housing manufacture for ball bearings, it hasbeen the general practice to cast onepiece pillow blocks and one-pieceflange cartridges in different sizes to meet the requirements ofindustrial applications where not only normal load but excessive loadsare encountered; such castings being mountable in any positions toaccomodate variable placements of shafts and yokes or brackets. Theseprior one-piece castings have numerous disadvantages among which are thenecessity of an eccentric machining tool for machining the foundry coreof the casting; the necessity of an eccentric grinding tool to bring thecore to the close tolerance required; the appreciable cost involved forinspection after machining and inspection after grinding in order toenable the fitting of the bearing into the housing which again requiresa special tool; and the inability to replace a bearing in the field.Prior one piece castings to house bearings are illustrated and describedin a number of catalogs and references, in this connection is made toService Catalog No. of the Fafnir Bearing Company of New Britain,Connecticut, First Edition, published by such Company in 1968 pp.86-109. In this same catalog, p. 99, there are illustrations of a pillowblock consisting of two heavy gauge, zinc plated steel stampings, withbearings as a part of the assembly and a self-locking collar and, asstated, such stampings are made with a precision bearing seat in whichdimensions are held to close tolerances to provide an accuratebearing-to-housing fit and to assure proper alignment of the parts.However, such units are not self-adjusting in relation to the outerspherical race of a supported bearing, and the units are marketed onlywith the bearing seated therein. The present invention obviates all ofthe disadvantages of prior bearing houses and is capable of beingmachined and ground with relatively simple tools and the bearing can beinserted and removed by hand and therefore readily replaced in thefield.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide improved pillowblocks and flange cartridges for removably housing hand installed rollerbearings.

Another important object of my present invention is to provide improvedpillow blocks and flange cartridges of the indicated nature which areadditionally characterized by their ease in manufacture with a selfadjusting feature in relation to the spherical contour of the outerraces of conventional bearings.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide twosection pillow blocks and two section flange cartridges of theaforementioned character which appreciably reduces the sizes of stockand storage space to meet normal bearing requirements.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved pillow blocks andflange cartridges which require but minimum handling in preparing thesame for housing conventional bearings.

A still further object of the invention is to provide two sectionbearing housings of the indicated nature which are capable of beingmanufactured and assembled at an irreducible minimum of cost which isappreciably lower than present costs for manufacturing single castings.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageousfeatures thereof, will appear from the following description of the bestmode contemplated for the construction thereof and the manner of usingthe same, as exemplified both in two section pillow blocks and flangecartridges which are illustrated in the annexed drawings. It is to beunderstood that variations thereof within the scope of the invention arecovered by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention, asexemplified in a flange cartridge.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this viewbeing taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of flange cartridge of myinvention, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view thereof taken on the line 44 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, as exemplified in a pillow block, this view showing thebearing and shafting mounted therein and the supporting base with boltsunscrewed but ready for tightening to assemble the housing in operativeposition.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the pillow blockillustrated in FIG. 5 but with the bolts turned down to into thesupporting base, and the bearing and shaft in operative positions byvirtue of the self-adjustment of the block relative to the bearing.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view, partly in section, of one section ofmy invention as exemplified in a pillow block.

FIG. 8 is a view of the pillow block section shown in FIG. 7 and takenon the line 8--8 thereof.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view partly in section, of the othersection of my invention in a pillow block.

FIG. 10 is a view of the lower section of my improved pillow block shownin FIG. 9 taken on the line 10-10 thereof.

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view, partly in section of the two sectionpillow block embodying my invention, this view illustrating the block inreadiness for installation on an underlying support.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but with the bolts tightened downand the pillow block in operative position.

In their preferred forms, the pillow blocks and flange cartridges of myinvention preferably each comprises a pair of separate sectionsconsisting of an outer section and an inner section; said outer sectioncomprising an inner segmental seat of spherical contour for receiving aportion of the spherical outer race of a ball bearing, an inner annularshoulder extending outwardly from the terminus of said seat and definingan inner annular space for permitting self-adjustment of the pillowblocks and flange cartridges about a contained ball bearing uponmounting the same in operative positions on a supporting beam; saidinner section comprising an inner segmental seat of spherical contourfor receiving another portion of the spherical outer race of the ballbearing, a flat base on said inner section for removable seating on aflat portion of the supporting beam, and an inner flat rim on said innersection disposable in said annular space between said outer and innersections and in registry with said inner shoulder of said outer section.

As particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive of the annexeddrawings, I provide in the flange cartridge exemplifications of myimproved bearing housings, generally designated by the reference numeral11, a pair of complementary sections comprising an outer section 12 andan inner section 13 which are both cast from a suitable casting materialsuch as malleable or ductile iron in accordance with conventionalmethods and from patterns for differences in sizes of bearings. Asshown, the outer section 12 is provided with an apertured flangeextension 14 which may extend merely in opposite directions for two boltfasteners, or may extend in the configuration of a rectangle andapertured as indicated by the reference numeral 16 at the four cornersthereof for the passage of bolts 17 whereby the flange cartridge 11 maybe secured to a supporting beam 18; such beam being disposed vertically,see FIGS. and 6, or horizontally or at an inclination depending uponconditions of shaft mounting. The outer casting 12 is fashioned with aflat annular base 19 defining a relatively large central opening 21 forthe passage of a ball bearing 22 with journaled shaft 23 mountedtherein, as clearly shown in FIG. 5 and 6. It is to be understood thatno special tool is required to place the bearing 22 within the assemblyof outer and inner sections 12 and 13, respectively, as this placementis merely a slip fit of the bearing which may be done manually in eitherthe case of mounting a new bearing initially or in the field to replacea worn bearmg.

bodied in a flange cartridge, I provide on the outer section 12 thereofan inner segmental seat 26 of spherical contour and also provide at theinner terminus of seat 26 an annular shoulder 27 which defines inrelation to the inner section a relatively deep annular space 28 forpermitting self-adjustment of the two sections relative to one anotherand in holding engagement with a ball bearing about the spherical outerrace thereof. As shown, the inner section 13 is provided with a flatannular base 29 bounding a relatively large central opening 31 foralignment with the large central opening 21 of the outer section 12; theflat annular base 29 of the inner section 13 engaging, when the flangecartridge 1 1 is mounted, a portion of the supporting beam 18. The innersection 13 is cast with an inner annular rim 32 which is disposable inthe annular space 28 in registry with the annular shoulder 27 of theouter section 12, and also is cast with an inner segmental seat 33 ofspherical contour for receiving another portion of the spherical outerrace of ball bearing 22.

It is to be noted that the flange cartridge 11 of the outer and innersections 12 and 13, respectively, and encompassing the bearing 22 withits mounted shaft 23 presents, prior to the final securing of thehousing to a supporting beam, the base 29 of the inner section 13 ashort distance from the surface of the supporting beam, see FIG. 5 whilethe inner rim 32 of such inner section presents a clearance between itand shoulder 27 of the outer section 12. As the bolts17 are tighteneddown, the base 29 of inner section 13 engages firmly with the beam18 andis moved toward the base of the outer section so that the two sectionsself-adjust and take up the clearance or space 28 with the inner seats26 and 33 of the two sections engaging portions of the outer spheri- Inaccordance with the present invention, as emcal race of the ball bearing22 to hold the same firmly in operative position. Also, upon thisself-adjustment of the two sections, the inner rim 32 of the innersection 13 engages the annular inner shoulder 27 of outer section 12 ofthe flange cartridge 11 and the space between the base 19 of outer l2and the supporting beam 18 is virtually reduced to zero. Should thebearing 22 become unduly worn in use and be required to be replaced, itis only necessary to loosen the bolt 17, manually slip out the bearingand shaft, replace the same with a new bearing and shaft section, andthen tighten down the bolts 17 again into the supporting beam 18.

In FIGS. 7 to 12 inclusive of the annexed drawings I have illustratedthe invention as embodied in a two section pillow block, designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 11, which is cast either frommalleable or ductile iron utilizing patterns of the sections fordifferent sizes of bearings. In this embodiment, I provide an outersection 112 and an inner section 113, see FIGS. 7 and 9, respectively.The outer section 112 comprises opposed flanges 114 extending from andmerging with an arched segment 115 and provided with suitable apertures116 for passing bolts 117 whereby the pillow may be mounted upon asupport beam 118, see FIGS. 11 and 12. The flanges 114 of pillow blocksection 112 are conveniently formed with a flat base 119 which seats onthe supporting beam 118 when the bolts are fully tightened down; suchflanges defining a relatively large central opening 121 for passing, inconjunction with the arched segment 1 15, a ball bearing 122 with itsmounted shaft section 123, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In accordance with the present invention, 1 provide on outer section 112of the pillow block 111 an inner segmental seat-126 as well as providean inner annular shoulder 127 thereon extending from the terminus ofsuch seat 126 which is made to a spherical contour for receiving theouter spherical race of ball bearing 122; such shoulder 127 defining adeep annular space 128 for allowing self-adjustment of the two sections112 and l 13 relative to one another as they are mounted on supportingbeam 118. The inner section 113 of the pillow block is relatively smallcompared to the outer section 112 and comprises a flat base 129removably seated on a flat portion of the supporting beam 118, andincludes a flat annular inner rim 132 as well as an inner segmental seat133 of spherical contour for receiving the outer spherical race of theball bearing 122.

I have shown in FIG. 12 the assembled outer and inner sections 112 and113, respectively of my im- .proved-pillow block 111 loosely mounted onthe supporting beam 118 with the bolts 117 only partially turned down totheir fullest extents. As illustrated particularly in FIG. 11, thispartial mounting of the pillow 'block presents the clearance or annularspace 128 between the two sections with the flat base 129 of innersection 113 appreciably below the base 119 of the flanges 1 14 but witha clearance between such flat base 129 of the inner section and thesupporting beam 118, see FIG. 11. When the bolts 117 are turned down totheir fullest extents to fasten the pillow block firmly to beam 118 inoperative position see FIG. 12, the clearance between the flat base 119of outer section 112 and the supporting beam 118 becomes virtually zerowith the inner rim 132 of the inner section 113 engaging the innerannular shoulder 127 of the outer section 112, thus providingself-adjustment of the two sections by virtue of the tension and bendingmoments applied at the junctures of the base 119 and beam 118 during thetightening of the bolts 117. it is clear that to replace any wornbearing in the field, which is slipfitted manually into place within thesections, it is only necessary to loosen the bolts 117, remove the wornbearing with shaft section, replace the same with a new bearing andshaft section, and then re-tighten the bolts 117 to their fullestextents; no tool being required to make the change.

From the foregoing description of the best modes contemplated for theconstruction and manner of using my improved pillow blocks and flangecartridges, it will be clear that machining costs for such bearinghousings are materially reduced inasmuch as exact tolerances between thebearing outer race and the housings are not required due to theself-adjustment of the two sections. Additional reasons for the lowermachining costs reside in the fact that a simple cutting tool shaped tothe size of the spherical contour of the outer race of the bearing canbe employed to make the finish cuts in the castings, as compared to therequirement of somewhat expensive machining tools and equipment formachining the inside surface of the casting in a one piece bearinghousing, as heretofore exemplified in pillow blocks and flangecartridges, as well as costs of inspections after machining and aftergrinding which are eliminated insofar as my improved pillow blocks andflange cartridges are concerned. Moreover, initial casting costs arelower for my pillow blocks since the core in my two section pillow blockis not needed. It also is to noted that the increased amount of spaceand storage expense involved for stocking of a multiplicity of one piecepillow blocks containing different sizes of bearings with mounteddifference sizes of shafts is completely avoided or to a large extentavoided in the stocking of my improved pillow blocks and flangecartridges since the housings and bearings witn contained shaft sectionscan be stocked space-wise separately because the housings can receiveseveral bearings of the same outside dimensions yet have different shaftsizes.

It is to be understood that the embodiments illustrated may be variedwithin the scope of the invention as such variations are intended to becovered by the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A pillow block capable of being detachably fastened to a support;said pillow block comprising a pair of self-adjusting sectionsconsisting of an outer section and an inner section for housing abearing in which a shaft may be journaled; said outer section having atleast one aperture therein for the passage of a bolt whereby the pillowblock can be removab'ly secured to a support and comprising an innersegmental bearing seat of spherical contour on said outer section forreceiving a spherical portion of the outer race of a bearing, and aninner annular shoulder thereon projecting outwardly from the terminus ofsaid segmental bearing seat and defining an adjacent annular space,

and said inner section com rising a flat base engageable with a flatportion of t e support upon which the block is mounted; a complementaryinner segmental bearing seat of spherical contour for receiving anotherspherical portion of the outer race of the bearing, and an inner annularrim projecting outwardly from the terminus of said complementarysegmental bearing seat of said inner section and extendable into saidannular space in alignment with said inner shoulder of said outersection upon engagement of said flat base of said inner section with thesupport on which the block is mounted and the turning down of said boltto its fullest extent to secure the block in operative position on thesupport.

2. A pillow block as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bearing seats ofsaid outer and inner sections conform in contour to the outer sphericalrace of a contained ball bearing.

3. A pillow block as set forth in claim 1, and a flat base on said outersection surrounding said flat base on said inner section; said flat baseon said outer section being engageable with a flat portion of thesupport when the block is mounted in operative position thereon.

4. A flange cartridge capable of being detachably secured to a supportand serving as a retainer for a bearing in which a shaft may bejournaled; said flange cartridge comprising a pair of self-adjustingsections consisting of an outer section and an inner section, said outersection having at least one aperture therein for passing a bolt wherebythe cartridge may be secured to a support and having a central openingin the top thereof and a wide opening in the bottom thereof forplacement and retention of a bearing and comprising an inner segmentalbearing seat of spherical contour for receiving one spherical portion ofthe outer race of a bearing, and an inner annular shoulder projectingoutwardly from the terminus of said segmental bearing seat and definingan inner annular space adjacent to said shoulder, and said inner sectionhaving openings in the top and bottom thereof in registry with thecentral opening in the top of said outer section and being movablymounted in said wide opening in the bottom of said outer sectioncomprising an inner complementary segmental bearing seat of sphericalcontour for receiving another portion of the outer race of the retainedbearing, and an inner annular rim projecting outwardly from the terminusof said complementary segmental bearing seat and extendable into saidannular space in alignment with said inner annular shoulder of saidouter section upon engagement of said flat bottom of said inner sectionwith the support on which the flange cartridge is mounted and theturning down of said bolt to its fullest extent to secure the cartridgein operative position on the support.

1. A pillow block capable of being detachably fastened to a support; said pillow block comprising a pair of self-adjusting sections consisting of an outer section and an inner section for housing a bearing in which a shaft may be journaled; said outer section having at least one aperture therein for the passage of a bolt whereby the pillow block can be removably secured to a support and comprising an inner segmental bearing seat of spherical contour on said outer section for receiving a spherical portion of the outer race of a bearing, and an inner annular shoulder thereon projecting outwardly from the terminus of said segmental bearing seat and defining an adjacent annular space, and said inner section comprising a flat base engageable with a flat portion of the support upon which the block is mounted; a complementary inner segmental bearing seat of spherical contour for receiving another spherical portion of the outer race of the bearing, and an inner annular rim projecting outwardly from the terminus of said complementary segmental bearing seat of said inner section and extendable into said annular space in alignment with said inner shoulder of said outer section upon engagement of said flat base of said inner section with the support on which the block is mounted and the turning down of said bolt to its fullest extent to secure the block in operative position on the support.
 2. A pillow block as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bearing seats of said outer and inner sections conform in contour to the outer spherical race of a contained ball bearing.
 3. A pillow block as set forth in claim 1, and a flat base on said outer section surrounding said flat base on said inner section; said flat base on said outer section being engageable with a flat portion of the support when the block is mounted in operative position thereon.
 4. A flange cartridge capable of being detachably secured to a support and serving as a retainer for a bearing in which a shaft may be journaled; said flange cartridge comprising a pair of self-adjusting sections consisting of an outer section and an inner section, said outer section having at least one aperture therein for passing a bolt whereby the cartridge may be secured to a support and having a central opening in the top thereof and a wide opening in the bottom thereof for placement and retention of a bearing and comprising an inner segmental bearing seat of spherical contour for receiving one spherical portion of the outer race of a bearing, and an inner annular shoulder projecting outwardly from the terminus of said segmental bearing seat and defining an inner annular space adjacent to said shoulder, and said inner section having openings in the top and bottom thereof in registry with the central opening in the top of said outer section and being movably mounted in said wide opening in the bottom of said outer section comprising an inner complementary segmental bearing seat of spherical contour for receiving another portion of the outer race of the retained bearing, and an inner annular rim projecting outwardly from the terminus of said complementary segmental bearing seat and extendable intO said annular space in alignment with said inner annular shoulder of said outer section upon engagement of said flat bottom of said inner section with the support on which the flange cartridge is mounted and the turning down of said bolt to its fullest extent to secure the cartridge in operative position on the support. 